The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
A Comfortable Fortune SPENT in Efforts to Ad.
vance the Cause, and the Reward That
Was His Due Given to Agitator George.
Interesting Gossip About the Wives and
Daughters Of Some Great Men.
Facts Concerning William Belden, the Man
Who Succeeded in Besting Jay Gould in
Gigantic Gambling Transaction.
JOHN swINTON.
A Case That StrikinGly illustrates the Work.
ingman's Ingratitude.


ingman's Ingratitude.
Special tc the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-Two weeks ago a man
with grey hair, white mustache and piercing
black eyes sat in car rolling over the Brooklyn
bridge. His face was oval. but deadly pale.
battered old hat sat on the back of his head re-
vealing broad forehead and more than ten
dency to badness. He wore rusty broadcloth
and low bosomed vest His linen was frayed
but clean. and the knot of his white tie was
askew. His coat collar was worn a la Horace
Greeley. and his hands and pockets were filled
with newspapers. He was conversiug on the
labor question with q classic-featured lady
dressed neatly but not richly. He spoke i, SO
distinct tone that he was heard in every part
of the car. The man was converslng with his
own wife in words that indicated intense
conviction of the truth of the views ex-
pressed. He was the Carl Marx of Amer
lea, rough and ready John Swinton. For years
has he battled on behalf of labor in the United
States When he began the fight he lived in
brown stone front and had a chef de cuisine,
and 500, 900 in government bonds, the latter
saved by hard newspaper work at night. To-
day he is living on the top floor of Brooklyn
tenement house. his fortune lost. but his spirit
more defiant than ever He has waged cease
less fight for the worhingmen. and has lived to
see another reap the reward of his labor Years
ago I saw him addressing great labor meeting
in Tompkins square. 1t was a peaceable assem-
bly,, but swarm of locuets descended upon it
The locusts were welded by police officers. The
frightened workmen were dubbed numerically.
Even their women and children were assaulted.
In tones of thunder Swinton protested against
the outrage, but in vain Covered with bruises
he was driven from the platform, and his hear
ers were dispersed in all directions
From that day to the present he has thrown
himself, body and soul, into the labor move
ment. He left most lucrative editorial situa
ton on the Sun to start workingmens news
paper. His time and his money have been lost
in effort to place it on a good paying basis.
He never faltered in his work, however dark the
sky. Despite his trials and misfortrues, his
faith in a future workingman's commonwealth
is as great as ever BY years of hard work he
raised his subscription list to barely paying
basis. Then Henry George descended upon the
city. Swinton and Dr. McGynn joined buck
lars and headed the Macedonian phalanx Swim
ton tried to make his paper the ami du peuple
Of the movement. It's columns fairly blazed
with war cries. The George FIRE burned in every
department Apparently the hour for his reward
had arrived. In the fullness of his hopes and
while his plume was noiding in the vanguard
he received deadly wound in the back. It came
from the ranks of those for whom he had so
bravely struggled. The Knights of Labor started
a daily newspaper, edited by newer and younger
men. Swintons little weekly dwindled in cir
culation. 1t was like handcart compared to a
locomotive. The bulk of his subscribers were at
| remote points. They complained because lie left
the beaten path of sophistry. and filed their ears
with George music The old man refused to
listen to their protests. and they deserted him.
He came out of the George campaign even
| poorer than when he went into it. Nothing I'm
daunted, however. he picked his flint and entered
| the lis, with renewed nerve and vigor. He paid
closer attention than ever to his newspaper A
| friend who entered his sanctum six weeks ago
tells me that he found him gnawine a beef bone
while writing an editorial article His faithful
| wife sat near him, aiding him In his newspaper
| work. esky was again Frightening. butt quick
| ly became very dark. Henry George started a
! weekly newspaper within q stones throw of
| Swinton' sanctum. The McGlynn episode gave
him wonderful vantage In one month his
wlabor organ has reached circulation of 40, 600
| His political campaign had already made him
af1uent by stimulating the sale of his books and
| the fortune is to be doubled if not trebled.
But what of sturdy old John Swintoni He is
left shivcring in the cold wind of adversely.
| Esau has again been robbed Of his birthright.
The workingmen have turned their backs on the
noble old man who has ruined himeelf in his de-
voton to their interests and have fallen on sheil
| knees before a new idol. But Swinton is q true
! philosopher, AS we'll a born philanthrophist
The corroding acid OF ingratitude cannot eat
| pure metal He will stand by his convictions,
regardless Of consequences, even If they lead
him to pauper's grave. After death he may
receive his rewards. ZIsKA